Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02799118 2012-12-18
SHIP LOADING SYSTEM
The present invention relates to a ship loading system that utilizes a
retractable roof for
covering an upper surface of the boom, the cargo discharge chute, and the
cargo hatch
through which material is being loaded into the ship's cargo holds, or more
particularly,
to a ship loading system having a retractable roof for covering an upper
surface of the
boom, the cargo discharge chute, and the hatch through which material is being
loaded
into the ship's cargo holds to provide a ship loading system having all-
weather loading
capability.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is common that ocean-going ships that are used to transport unpackaged or
bulk
particulate or fluent cargo, such as alfalfa pellets, agricultural products,
minerals, salts,
potash and other fertilizers, and other types of goods, are generally
constructed with at
least one large hatch or opening in the deck of the ship that generally
permits access to
the hold below where such materials are stored. In normal loading operations,
during
good weather, a conveyorized boom, having a cargo discharge chute, is lowered
into the
opening and the cargo is dispensed. Such a boom is usually moved slightly
during the
loading operation to insure that the particulate or fluent material is spread
uniformly
within the hold of the ship. However, many bulk products, such as agricultural
grains
and processed materials, such as potash and salt, can be severely damaged if
they are
exposed to rain or other sources of water and, therefore, loading these types
of products
onto ships must often be delayed until the weather conditions improve. This is
not only
a major inconvenience, but it is also very uneconomical (as inclement weather
can
substantially delay or inhibit the loading of the cargo onto the barge or ship
resulting in
increased costs) and it can be prohibitive to require a ship to wait for
improved weather
before loading can proceed.
It would therefore be advantageous to have an improved ship loading system
that
utilizes a retractable roof for covering an upper surface of the boom, the
cargo discharge
CA 02799118 2012-12-18
chute, as well as the hatch opening through which the material will pass while
being
placed into the ship's cargo hold.
It would be further advantageous to have a ship loading system having a
retractable roof
for covering an upper surface of the boom and the cargo discharge chute to
provide a
ship loading system having all-weather loading capability. To this end, the
present
invention effectively addresses this need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an improved ship loading system that utilizes a
retractable roof for covering an upper surface of the boom, the cargo
discharge chute, as
well as the hatch opening through which the material will pass while being
placed into
the ship's cargo hold, and which has all-weather loading capability.
According to one aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, there is
provided a
ship loading system for a vessel, comprising a selectively movable boom
section
constructed and arranged for attachment to a frame section; a cargo discharge
chute
constructed and arranged for engagement with the boom section, the cargo
discharge
chute being constructed and arranged for discharging materials received from
the boom
section into a hold or hatch of the vessel; and a selectively retractable
cover extending
over the boom section, the hold or hatch of the vessel and the cargo discharge
chute.
According to another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, there
is
provided a ship loading system for a vessel, comprising a selectively movable
boom
section constructed and arranged for attachment to a frame section, and having
a
conveyor belt for carrying material to be loaded into a hold or hatch of the
vessel; a
cargo discharge chute constructed and arranged for engagement with the boom
section,
the cargo discharge chute being constructed and arranged for discharging
materials
received from the boom section into the hold or hatch of the vessel;
positioning means
connected to the boom section which are constructed and arranged to position
the boom
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section and the cargo discharge chute into a discharge alignment with the hold
or hatch
of the vessel; a leveling boom connected to the boom section, the leveling
boom being
constructed and arranged to keep the boom section level during loading
operations of
the materials; and a selectively retractable cover extending over the boom
section, the
hold or hatch of the vessel and the cargo discharge chute.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The embodiments of the present invention will now be described by reference to
the
following figures, in which identical reference numerals in different figures
indicate
identical elements and in which:
Figure 1A is a top view of an embodiment of the present invention,
illustrating the
retractable roof for covering an upper surface of the boom, the cargo
discharge chute,
and the hatch opening through which the material will pass for loading the
ship's cargo
hold,in an expanded position;
Figure 1B is a side view of the embodiment of the present invention shown in
Figure
1A;
Figure 2A is a front view of an embodiment of the present invention,
illustrating the
retractable roof in a retracted position;
Figure 2B is a front view of the embodiment of the present invention shown in
Figure
2A, illustrating the retractable roof in an expanded position;
Figure 3 is a side view of the embodiment of the present invention shown in
Figure 1B,
illustrating the main boom raised to an upper operating position;
Figure 4 is a side view of the embodiment of the present invention shown in
Figure 1B,
illustrating the main boom raised to a lower operating position; and
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CA 02799118 2012-12-18
Figure 5 is a side view of the embodiment of the present invention shown in
Figure 1B,
illustrating the main boom raised to a non-operating, parked position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The invention will be described for the purposes of illustration only in
connection with
certain embodiments; however, it is to be understood that other objects and
advantages
of the present invention will be made apparent by the following description of
the
drawings according to the present invention. While a preferred embodiment is
disclosed, this is not intended to be limiting. Rather, the general principles
set forth
herein are considered to be merely illustrative of the scope of the present
invention and
it is to be further understood that numerous changes may be made without
straying from
the scope of the present invention.
Referring to Figures 1A and 1B, a first exemplary embodiment of the ship
loading
system 1 of the present invention is shown. In an exemplary embodiment, the
ship
loading system 1 relates to a ship loading system having all-weather loading
capability,
wherein grains, other particulate materials or materials can be loaded in all
types of
weather conditions without risk of damage to the grains or materials. In
particular, a
main boom 3 is provided which is constructed and arranged for attachment to a
frame
section 5. The main boom 3 can be positioned, by means of hoisting cables 7
and
hoisting winches 9 (such as a winch luffing system), over the hatch or hold 11
of a
vessel or ship to be loaded, and a levelling boom 13 in association and
connection with
the main boom 3 interacts such that the levelling boom 13 sets the elevation
of the main
boom pivot for ship loading activities. This allows for the adjustment and
positioning of
the main boom 3 depending on the height of the vessel to be loaded. Such
movement of
the main boom 3 and the levelling boom 13 can occur by power supplied
electrically,
mechanically, hydraulically or through use of a pneumatic system, though other
means
could also be utilized, as would be appreciated by one skilled in the art.
Figure 3
illustrates the main boom 3 being raised to an upper operating position, and
Figure 4
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illustrates the main boom 3 being lowered to a lower operating position.
Figure 5
illustrates the main boom 3 being raised, once loading activities have
concluded, to a
non-operating "parked" position.
A cargo discharge chute 15 is provided on the main boom 3, to allow for the
transfer of
the grains, other particulate materials or materials into the hatch or hold 11
of a vessel
or ship to be loaded. It will be understood that the positioning of the cargo
discharge
chute 15 along the main boom 3 can be selectively varied, but generally will
be at an
end thereof. Of course, a conveyor belt (not shown) is in association with
each of the
main boom 3 and levelling boom 13, and runs along upper surfaces thereof to
deliver
the materials ultimately through the cargo discharge chute 15 and into the
hatch or hold
11.
With reference to Figures 2A and 2B, a retractable roof 17 is provided, which
can be
coupled to the main boom 3 and extended to cover the hatch or hold opening on
the
vessel, and, when expanded, extends over the main boom 3, the hold or hatch 11
of the
vessel and the cargo discharge chute 15. The hold or hatch 11 of the vessel
would then
be opened, once safely under the retractable roof 17, and the cargo discharge
chute 15
aligned so as to initiate loading activities. The retractable roof 17 can also
be partially
extended, or extended more to one side than another, when clearance issues
dictate.
Figure 2A illustrates the retractable roof 17 in a retracted position, and
assuming a
position alongside sides of the main boom 3. Figure 2B illustrates the
retractable roof
17 hingedly expanded and covering the upper surfaces of the main boom 3, the
opening
for the hold or hatch 11 of the vessel and the cargo discharge chute 15.
In operation, materials from a feed conveyor 19 are loaded by means of a
travelling
tripper 21 onto the conveyor belt (not shown) for travel along each of the
levelling
boom 13 and main boom 3, to deliver the materials ultimately through the cargo
discharge chute 15 and into the hatch or hold 11.
In a further exemplary embodiment, a radio remote control unit (not shown) can
be
utilized to allow the operator to control all necessary shiploading functions
in all
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weather conditions without interruption from the deck of the vessel, the
shiploader itself
or an adjacent dock area.
Other embodiments consistent with the present invention will become apparent
from
consideration of the specification and the practice of the invention disclosed
therein.
Accordingly, the specification and the embodiments are to be considered
exemplary
only, with the true scope and spirit of the invention being disclosed by the
following
claims.
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